8.7 Cr Youth Neither In Education, Employment Nor Training: NITI Aayog
2 crore people are unemployed, according to a NITI Aayog report
Chennai: Over 8.7 crore young Indians, who are outside the labour force, are neither in education, employment nor training (NEET). Among those in the labour force, 2 crore people are unemployed, according to a NITI Aayog report.
The report finds that 79.6 crore or 54.9 per cent of the population are outside the Labour Force. This included unemployed youth, unemployed women, old age people, students and children below the age of 5 years. Of this, 8.7 crore youth, comprising individuals between the ages of 15 and 29, are not in education, employment or training (NEET).
Further, in the 65.4 crore labour force, 2 crore are unemployed.
At school level, early exposure to vocational options remains limited. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 envisaged that 50 per cent of students would have exposure to vocational subjects by 2025, and all students by 203021. NEP 2020 specifies dedicated hours for vocational exposure from grade 6, yet implementation is still in its nascent stages.
The Economic Survey 2024–25 notes that only 8.25% of graduates are employed in roles aligned to their qualifications. Educated unemployment is also high: 13% of all graduates and 20.4% of graduate women are unemployed.
According to Niti Aayog, for the workforce and NEET youth, the need shifts towards mid-career reskilling, self-employment pathways, and learning options aligned with local demand and emerging sectors.
Further, only 3 per cent of women are in formal jobs.
For women, and especially mothers, access constraints are further shaped by caregiving responsibilities and household schedules. Fixed training formats are often incompatible with daily routines. Access to high-quality, advanced, and industry-linked skilling remains limited, and enabling infrastructure such as safe transport, secure childcare, and nearby training centres is often absent. Even after training, the lack of flexible and dignified livelihood options prevents skills from translating into sustained economic participation.
As a result, many women turn to small, home-based self-employment that promises flexibility, but face constraints related to autonomy, access to capital, and market linkages. end
